The Ballard High School football team will be kicking off the 2012 Football Program by having a Spaghetti Dinner May 18th.

Spring football practice starts at the end of the month and this an opportunity for the BHS community to learn about the current program, and meet the coaches and players.

Coach Joey Thomas has high hopes for the upcoming season and wants to share his enthusiasm with the community.

"The expectations are simple: the final destination is the Tacome Dome," said Thomas. "We are a playoff team. But, we'll go as far as our senior leadership takes us. 2012 is going to be different because it's year two. The culture has changed around here at Ballard High School." 

"I don't know if you've noticed but it's a "New Era." I feel the kids have a better idea of what's expected and how you have to push yourself and work to acheive a certain level of success-on and off of the field."

Thomas said that as a new coach, he felt a lot of pressure last season, and his goals weren't met.

"No, our expectations weren't met. We didn't win every game last year.  We weren't 4A State Champs.  That's the goal every year.  There were some games we wish we could have back but we definitely had more victories last year as whole than defeats," he said. "All I can ask is that we get better each week and leave it all out on the field. What we were able to accomplish as a team was incredible. Not only as football players but as young men.  I am proud of the type of young men our players are becoming."

Thomas said that after dealing with a lot of pressure this past season, year two will be more comfortable.

"There's always more of a comfort level going into year two.  There's nothing like being in a pressure situation and seeing how everyone handles adversity. Pressure busts pipes and pressure also makes a diamond.  We make diamonds around here," he said.
 
Thomas said the past season taught him to be patient

"No matter how hard you try to impose your will, certain things just take time. In order to build the type of program we will have at Ballard-there's no shortcuts, there's no express lane," he said. "The foundation has to be laid brick by brick.  But if we work together as a school and a community we can build that foundation a lot faster than one individual person."

Looking at the upcoming season, Thomas knows it will be anything but easy.

“This is probably one of the toughest Ballard football schedules in the last
eight to ten years,” said Thomas.

Ballard will open the 2012 season with the “Battle for Ballard” game as the Beavers play at Blanchet for the first game ever under the lights on the August 31st weekend.

"I am definitely excited entering year two but we can't do it with out you," Thomas said, addressing the Ballard community. "So, I'm personally inviting you to come out and support YOUR team."
 
Come out to support the team at the Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, May 18th at 6:30 p.m. at Ballard High School.